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 1:40000 scale, now what's that? To be honest, the great attraction of this map is its scale. We are all used to 1:25000 and 1:50000 and as a result, many of us have bought maps at both scales to cover an area being visited. The 1:50000 gives a nice overview of an area, but for many of us off walking we always dip into the security of the 1:25000 especially when after gate entrances and the like which can save many hundreds of yards of walking and backtracking. However, I have to say that the BMC map at 1:40000 proves a very useful middle way. To those of us less acquainted, the scale of 1.5 inches to the mile equates to 2.5cm to 1km. I take the map everywhere with me now and it sits happily in the map pocket of my jacket. I will be honest, my 1:50000 will normally sit in my pack, but the other plus about this BMC production is its endurance. I deliberately took it up Fairfield last November in the most atrocious weather when everyone was running for the valley. It stood up to gales and driving rain. I even let the map flap about a bit when the normal paper production would've been shredded to pulp. The map is printed on plastic as you have probably deduced and is less bulky than the laminated OS versions. What's also great is the information on the reverse of the map. Apart from safety information and a neat piece on how to orientate a map, there are separate maps detailed at 1:20000 for the Scafells, Gable and Langdale with one covering Great Calva in the far north which sadly got chopped off - sadly the 'circular' District doesn't fit snuggly into a rectalinear map.
I have been converted to the BMC Mountain Map of the Lake District and I will recommend it to anyone. As I've said it's perfect to sit in the pocket to be dragged out quickly to check minor course directions or as a reference for name details and the like. Of course, for a new visitor to The Lakes, the one map covers just about the whole district which is a big plus in terms of cost. There is a little less detail for the walker, especially below the intake walls in the valley bottoms where navigation ironically is the most difficult. Having said this, I think the map is clear, utilising a good colour palette and harkens back to the Bartholomew mentioned in the introduction. I know some people utilise the OS like a religion, but i think you will be pleasantly surprised by this offering which has his roots in the excellent cartographic work of Harvey Maps. In any case, it also incorporates a geology map, first aid advise, phone numbers and websites and it can also be used as a wipe clean table cloth - now that's got to be a good buying point! If you don't have it yet, go out and get it now. BAA Rating:  [4 / 5] The BMC Lake District Map is available from all good stockists and the BMC website For members of the BMC it is available at £9.95 or £12.95 to non-members. ISBN 0-903908-87-5 |
